The war has helped Russia move up in the ranks of countries with a high-income level.

For two years, the Russian economy ignored the sanctions levied against it and grew steadily, which has led the World Bank to raise the Russian Federation’s income level rating from an “above average income” to a “high income” country.

Data from the World Bank show that Russians earned $14,250 per person last year in gross national income per capita.

“Economic activity in Russia was affected by a significant increase in military activity in 2023,” the bank’s report says.

The war creates demand for military goods and services, making some sectors of the Russian economy profitable. Last year, Russian trade grew by almost 7%, and activity in the financial sector and construction grew by 6.6% and 3.6%, respectively. This increased Russia’s real GDP by 3.6%. Against this background, the financial situation for some poor Russians improved, complicating any calculations about how to end the war.

Ukraine also rose in the ranking to a country with an upper-middle income.